Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-22
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
Abstract OF the Bill as Passed by Both
Houses OF Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l.
Ihe Inter State commerce bill, as agreed
upon oy both houses of Congress, in its frst
section applies the provisions of this act to
any common carrier engaged in transporta
ton of passengers wholly by railroad and
partly by water when both are used, under
common control, management or arrangement
through more than one State or Territory or
from any place in the Unitad States to an
adjacent foreign country. 1t define. the term
railroad" TO include all bridges and ferries
used or operated by any railroad. All
charges made for any service rendered in
transportation of passengers or property shall
be reasonable and just and every unjust and
unreasonable charge for such service is pro-
hiblted and declared to be unlawfu.
Section two makes it unlawful for any
common carrier, subject to the provisions of
this act, to charge, demand, collect or receive,
directly or indirectly, from any person or
persons greater or less compensation for
any service rendered in transportation of
passengers or property than it charges, de-
mands, collects or receives from anv other
person or persons for doing him or them like
and contemporaneous service in transporta-
ton of like kind of traffic under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions
Section three makes it unlawful for anv
common carrier subject to the provisions of
this act to make or give any undue or unrea-
sonable preference or advantage to any par
ucular person, company, firm or corporation
or LOCALITY or any particular description of
traffic. Every common carrier subject to the
provisions of this act shall, according to
their respective powers, afford all reasonable
proper and equal facilities for the interchange
OF traffic between their respective lines and
for the receiving, orwarding and delivery of
passengers and property to and from their
several lines and those connecting there
with, and shall not discriminate in their
rates and charges between such connecting
lines
Section four provides that it shall be un-
lawful for any common carrier subject to
the provisions of this act to charge or re
serve any great compensation in aggregate
for the transportation of passengers or of a
like kind of property under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions for a
shorter than longer distance over the same
line in the same direction, the shorter bein :
included with the longer distance, but this
shall not be construed as authorizing any
common carrier within the terms of this act
to charge and receive as great compensation
for shorter as for a longer distance, pro-
vlded, however. that upon application to the
commission appointed under the provisions
OF this act such common carrier may in
special cases, after an investigation by the
commission, may be authorized to charge
less for a long than for shorter distances for
the transportation of passengers or property,
and the commission may from time to time
prescribe the extent to which such designated
common carrier may be relieved from opera
ton of this section of this act.
Section five provides that it shall be unlaw-
full for any common carrier subject to the
provisions of this act to enter into any con-
tract, agreement or combination with any
other common carrier or carriers for pooling
oi freghts of different aud competing rail
roads, or to divide between them the aggre.
gate or net proceeds of the earnings of such
railroads or any portion thereof. and in any
case of agreement for pooling of freights az
aforesaid, each day of its continuance shall
be deemed separate otfense.
Section six requires that after 80 days
from the passage of the act every common
carrier subject to its provisions shall have
printed and keep for public inspection sched-
ules showing such rates of fares and charges,
and in addition to requiring railroads to give
publicity At all of their depots on their sew
eral lines, it gives authority to the commits
sioners, where it is proper and necessary, tc
require them to give publicity to their rates
to places beyond the lines of their several
railroads.
Section seven makes it unlawful for any
common carrier to enter into any combina,
ton or agreement to prevent the carriage Of
freights from being continuous from place OF
shipment to place of destination.
Section eight declares that any common
carrier violating the provisions of the ACT
shall be liable to the person or persons in
| jured thereby for the full amount of the dam
age sustained in consequence of any sucl
violation. together with reasonable counse
or attorney fees.
Section nine provides that the person
claiming to have been damaged by the action
of the common carriers. may proceed for re-
covery of their damages either in the court
of the United States or before the commute,
herein provided for, bnt before3 both trbu
mails.
Section ten makes it penal offeuse to VIC
late any of the provisions of the act and put
the maximum of the fine which may be i'm
posed at the sum of $4,000
The eleventh and following sections con
tain the commission features of the bill
They provide for commission to consist o
Ave persons, whose term of office shall b
for six years, except for the first appoint
ments, which are to be for 2, ). 4, ., and
wears Members of this committee are to b
appointed by the President, by and with th
advice of the Senate. Their principal otfic
shall be in Warrington, but they may hole
sessions at other places than Warrington
and single members Of the commission ma,
lake testimony anywhere as may be directed
by the commission. These commissioner
have salary of $1,000 each. The commits
sion have power to appoint secretary at Al
annual salary of $500 and has authority tt
employ and fix the compensation of such o
the other employers as it may find nscessar,
| to the proper performance Of its duties.